258 



PB ACTIO AL GUIDE TO GARDEN PLANTS lychnis 



over i in. long, hairy, ribbed ; petals cleft. 

 The double-flowered v&Tiety flore-pleno is 

 best known, and is more highly valued for 

 the flower garden. It is an excellent 

 border plant and has large white flowers 

 that are very useful for cutting. 



Culture dc. as above for i. rlioica. The 

 double-flowered variety must be carefully 

 divided when it is wished to increase the 

 stock. 



L. Viscaria (Germam, Catchfly). — A 

 handsome evergreen 10-18 in. high, 

 native of Britain, Europe &c., with 

 smooth erect stems, clammy at the nodes. 

 Lower leaves 3-5 in. long, grass-like, with 

 stalks downy at the margins. Flowers 

 in early summer, almost sessile, with 

 obovate red-purple notched petals. Calyx 

 ^ in. long, purple, swollen uj)wards. 



There are several varieties, among 

 which alba, white, splendens, deep red, 

 and the double-flowered form (flore-pleno) 

 with rosy-pink blossoms are best known. 



Culture and Propagation. — This 

 species and its varieties, especially the 

 beautiful double-flowered ones, are excel- 

 lent border or rock plants, and when grown 

 in masses produce a very striking effect 

 when in blossom. The single-flowered 

 varieties produce seeds in abundance, and 

 may be increased by that means in the 

 same way as L. haageana or L. chalce- 

 donica. They are also very readily mul- 

 tiplied by dividing the tufts in early 

 autumn or in spring, and this is the only 

 way that the double-flowered forms can 

 be increased, besides cuttings of the young 

 shoots in spring in the same way as 

 mentioned under L. fulgens. 



CERASTIUM (Mouse-Ear Chick- 

 weed). — A genus containing according to 

 some authors about 100 species, but 

 reduced to about 10 by Bentham and 

 Hooker. Chiefly downy or hairy, rarely 

 smooth, annual or perennial herbs. 

 Leaves various, but rarely awl-shaped. 

 Flowers in terminal, forked, sometimes 

 leafy, sometimes almost naked, cymes. 

 Sepals 5, rarely 4. Petals equal in 

 number, notched or 2-cleft, very rarely 

 entire or laciniated, sometimes minute. 

 Stamens 10, or fewer by abortion. Styles 

 5, rarely 4 or 3, opposite the sepals. Cap- 

 sule cylindrical or cylindric-conical, often 

 iieurved. 



Culture and Propagation. — All the 

 Cerastiums grow readily in ordinary 

 garden soil. They are easily increased by 



division in early autunm or in spring ; or 

 by cuttings in the open border in a shady 

 place during the summer and autumn 

 months. Seeds are freely produced by 

 many kinds, and may be sown as soon as 

 ripe in pots or pans of weU-drained soil, 

 and placed in cold frames during the 

 winter months. The seedlings should be 

 pricked out when large enough to handle 

 into other boxes or pans, and should have 

 as much hght and air during the winter as 

 possible and on aU favourable occasions. 

 They will be strong and sturdy for plant- 

 ing out in spring. Of the perennial 

 species described below, Biehersteim, 

 grandnjlorum, and tomentcsum are most 

 generally grown on account of their 

 attractive silvery foliage. They are effec- 

 tive for borders and edgings, and contrast 

 forcibly with the brighter colours of other 

 plants. They are also useful for massing 

 in the rockery, and most of the species like 

 an open and sunny situation. 



C. alpinum. — A British species 2-4 in. 

 high. Leaves ovate elliptic or oblong, 

 covered with long silky hairs, or smooth, 

 Flowers in summer, white ; panicles 

 rather hairy, few-flowered. There are 

 several forms, the best known perhaps 

 being lanatum and villosum. 



Culture dc. as above. This species 

 seeds freely. 



C. Biebersteini. — An evergreen species 

 about 6 in. high, native of Tauria. 

 Stems branching, with wooUy ovate- 

 lance-shaped leaves. Flowers in early 

 summer, white, on erect forked stalks. 



Culture dc. as above. 



C. Boissieri. — A Spanish species 4-12 

 in. high, with sessile silvery leaves, 

 usually ovate-lance-shaped, acute, entire. 

 Flowers in early summer, white, large, in 

 regular forked cymes. 



Culture dc. as above. 



C. decalrans. — An interesting plant, 

 native of Servia. It has trailing and 

 rather woody stems, and dense rosettes of 

 green leaves covered with tufts of wool. 

 The numerous pure white flowers appear 

 in May and June. 



Culture dc. as above. 



C. grandiflorum. — A strong-growing 

 deciduous speeies about 6 in, high, native 

 of E. Europe. Leaves narrow, acute, 

 hoary or woolly, with somewhat revolute 

 margins. Flowers in summer, white, 



